Method of making and handling alimentary pellets



Nov. 18, 1941. T R, A ES 2,263,301

METHOD OF MAKING AND HANDLING ALIMENTARY PELLETS Original Filed Aug. 19, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 127061620] f/Uzoznad R Jamea" Nov. 18, 1941. R JAMES 2,263,301

METHOD OF MAKING AND HANDLING ALIMENTARY PELLETS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 19, 1938 By i15 NOV. 18, 1941. JAMES 2,263,301

METHOD OF MAKING AND HANDLING ALIMENTARY PELLETS Original Filed Aug. 19, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q T) \O x s i In 06172 01 I 7Z/20/27a y R JZZJJYGJ cownzcn'ow MAKING 5 4 'r. R. JAMES 2,263,301

METHOD OF MAKING AND HANDLING ALIMENTARY PELLETS Nov. 18, 1941.

8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Originai Filed Aug. 19, 1938 Ui I00 -I l'dgvl vulv- T. R. JAMES 2,263,301

METHOD OF MAKING AND HANDLING ALIMENTARY PELLETS Nov. 18, 1941.

Original Filed Aug. 19, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 \Illllll V i m i l. M I. M

@Zbvenior- Tfiomad fi. Jamed' 9 9 ul won a HUI uuuu T. R. JAMES 2,263,301

METHOD OF MAKING AND HANDLING ALIMENTARY PE LLETS Nov. 18, 1941.

Original Filed Aug. 19, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 J12 venior J Jam; mfiofiney Nov. 18, 1941.

T. R. JAMES METHOD OF MAKING AND HANDLING ALIMENTARY PELLETS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed Aug. 19, 1938 .17.? van Z01 Patented Nov. 18, 1941 METHOD OF MAKING AND HANDLING ALIMENTARY PELLETS Thomas R. James, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to General Mills, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Original application August 19, 1938, Serial No.

Divided and this application March 29, 1940, Serial No. 326,681

3 Claims. (Cl. 9980) This application relates to a method of kneading and cooking dough and forming it into pellets which are later to be puffed by any well known apparatus to form a breakfast cereal.

An object of the invention is to provide a method of forming such pellets particularly from an extremely heavy viscous dough which is hard to work, which when cool and somewhat dried is hard and non-adhesive, but which while still hot and moist adheres readily to everything it touches particularly other pellets. Another'object is the provision of a method ofrhandling the pellets to prevent them from adhering to each other and to the apparatus.

' -'-This is adivisiOn of my copending application which resulted in Patent No. 2,233,919, granted March 4, 1941, for a Food processing machine.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure l is a side elevation of the complete machine with certain of the guards for the moving part omitted.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine, the view being taken from the right hand end of Figures 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the machine, the view being taken from the left hand end of Figures 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the mixer mechanism of the invention, the view being taken to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, and discloses the cooker device to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on the line ll of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section on the line 9-9 of Figs. 2 and 10, the view showing details of the extruder unit.

Fig. 10 is a view on the line Hllil of Fig. 9, and showing one end of the extruder unit.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line I lll of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detail section on the line l2l2 of Fig. 8.

-Fig. 13 is a detail elevation, partly in section of a frame ring forming part of the device.

In carrying out this invention as shown in the accompanying drawings there is provided a base frame l0, which supports the various mechanisms through upstanding frame members ll. Ob-. viously the particular construction of this frame will depend on such factors as the size of its machine, its location, and other purely mechanical matters. Therefore, the details of construction of the frame will not be specificall described, it being deemed sufiicient; to state that the varl-,

ous mechanisms entering into the invention itself are suitably supported from the frame.

In general the invention comprises a mixer l2 for mixing the ingredients of the food under preparation with suitable liquid such as water to form a dough such as is described in Collatz carrying the left hand end of the shaft 2|.

Patent No. 2,162,376, granted June 13,1939, a cooker It also having the function of constituting a dough mixer during the cooking operation, a feed or screw unit I4, an extrusion device or unit 15, and a blower or cooling device [6, the latter serving to keep the pellets in motion while cooling to prevent them from sticking to each other and to the machine and to blow them out of the same.

Inasmuch as these cooperating devices act upon the ingredients and resulting dough in the order named, they will be described in that order. The mixer l2 lies at the top of the machine and includes a troughlike vessel I! having sides i8 and ends 19. Referring to the positions of the various elements as shown in Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that this vessel I! has in its bottom at the left end an opening 20, the trough ll extending to the right from this opening. In the end walls 19 is journaled the shaft 2| having secured thereon a conveyor worm 22. This worm extends from the right end of the trough H to the opening 20. Across the trough and extend ing from one side wall to the other are supports 23, whereon rests a pipe 24 having separate openings 25 in its lower part. This pipe is connected to a feed pipe 26 which receives liquid from any suitable source such as a. tank or the like, the source of liquid notbeing necessary here to be shown. It will be observed that the pipe 24 lies over and extends along-the worm so that when the solid ingredients of the food are pressed in the trough by any suitable means and liquid flows from the pipe 24 the working of the worm will mix the liquid and solid ingredients and will feed these mixed ingredients to the opening 20. Extending from the left hand end of the trough II are brackets 21 which support a bearing 28 On this left hand end there is further provided a with peripheral flanges 34 between which is a suitable gasket 35 (Fig. 12), these sections being held together at intervals by holdfastmeans 36 of any suitable sort, which will provide for the removal of the upper section from the lower section when desired. The upper section 32 has end walls 31, and the lower section 33 has end walls 38. These end walls support two pairs of alined stuffing boxes 39, wherein are joumaled an upper shaft 40 and a lower shaft 4|, these shafts being parallel and having their axes coincident with the centers of curvature of the upper and lower curved portions of the cooker. The sprocket 3| is mounted on the left hand end of the shaft 4|, so that when this shaft is rotated the shaft 2| left hand end of the cooker there is provided an opening 42 (Fig. l) and a peripheral wall 43 projects upwardly around this opening and has a flange 44 projecting outwardly from its upper edge. the opening 20, downwardly and outwardly flaring portions 45 provided with flanges 45 which rest on the flange 44. This construction permits the mixed material from the mixer to spread out as it passes out of the mixer, and the opening 42 permits the mixed material to flow into the cooker.

The upper section of the cooker is provided with a heat insulating jacket 41, and the lower section of the cooker is provided with an inner '49;

side wall 48 and an outer side wall 49 spaced concentrically from the wall 48 to form a steam- J'acket space 59, into which nipples 5| lead from this steam space and serve for connection to a pipe for steam supply and to an exhaust pipe.

By means of this arrangement the steam spacing may be heated to any desired degree. The steam space 50 is. provided with an insulating jacket 52. Extending radially from each of the shafts 40 and 4| is a series of arms 53 and di- 50;

ametrically opposite the arms 53 but in staggered relation thereto is a second series of arms 54. Carried on the outer end of each of the arms 53 and 54 is a combined stirring and conveying member 55, which forms a T head on 55;

the arm. These T heads are set at an angle to the axis of the respective shafts and the angular relation is such that rotation of the shaft causes these heads 55 to force the material in the cooker toward the right. At its right hand end the lower member 33 is provided with an opening 56 which communicates with a cylindrical chamber 51, presently to be referred to. It will now be observed that the material passes from the mixer to the left hand end of the cooker,

and then gradually moves to the right hand end of the cooker, this motion being affected by the rotating shafts and elements 55. During this movement through the cooker the heat of the steam in the space 50 will thoroughly cook the material and, at the same time, there will be a constant kneading of the mixture so that a mass of plastic material will be obtained in a thoroughly cooked condition, upon the arwill likewise be rotated. At the 25 The side walls l8 of the mixer have, at 30 will naturally be considerable steam generated. from the material being cooked and manholes" the two shafts rotate. It will further be observed that the spacing of the shafts 40 and 4| is such that the heads 55 of one shaft pass close to the other shaft during rotation at the same time they pass the arms of the other shafts. This insured a very highly efficient kneading of the material in the cooker.

In order to drive the cooker and the other elements of this invention, the frame In supports a main motor 59, which has a pulley 59a mounted on its shaft. On the frame are provided alined end bearings 60 and an intermediate bearing 6|. In these bearings is journaled a shaft 62. The shaft 62 forms a jack-shaft and on the left hand end of this shaft is a pinion 65 which meshes with a gear 65 fixed on the shaft 4|. Similarly on the right hand end of the shaft 62 is fixed a pinion 61, which meshes with a gear 68 fixed on the shaft 40. The pinions 55 and 51 are of the same size and the gears 66 and 68 also are of the same size. Consequently the shafts 40 and 4| are rotated in unison.

On the frame are also mounted bearings 83 which carry the driving shaft 64 of a speed re duction drive 59 of any preferred form, the casing only of this drive being here shown. On the shaft 64 is mounted a pulley which is connected by belting 10 to the pulley 59a. By this means the shaft 62 is driven from the motor. On the shaft 64 is also mounted a pulley or sprocket 1| which is connected by belt or chain 12 with a pulley or sprocket 13 mounted on a shaft 14. On this shaft 14 is keyed a clutch member 15 actuated by the lever 16 to engage with and engage from a clutch member 11 fixed on a shaft 18 which forms the driving shaft for a right angle drive, the casing of which is shown at 19. The purpose of this right angle drive will presently be understood. At the right rear part of the machine there is provided a standard type of variable speed drive, the casing of which is indicated at 8|], and this drive receives its power from a motor (not shown). The output shaft of the variable speed drive is indicated at 82 and carries a sprocket 83 which is connected by a suitable sprocket chain such as a roller chain 84 to a sprocket 85 mounted on a shaft 86. This shaft 86 is supported in a bearing 81 carried by the frame end in a stufiing box 88 supported by the end wall 89 of the chamber 51, the stuffing box being disposed axially.

The chamber 51 is provided with a cylindrical casing 99, having a flange 9| at its forward end.

On the shaft 86 is mounted a conveyor element I rival of such material at the opening 56. There and. at its forward end this chamber is provided with an inwardly extending peripheral flange 95. This cylindrical side wall has at its middle portion a belt of perforations 96, the whole forming a die. Mounted within the chamber 93 is an extrusion head or roller 91 of somewhat less diameter than the interior of the die the rear face of the roller having preferably a conical face as at 98. The body of the head 91 is of general frusto-conical form but the periphery of this body is slightly concave at 99.

Supported from the frame I is a cylindrical housing I00, which is concentric to the chamber 51 and slightly excentric to the head 91. Within the front end of the housing I00 is supported a combination radial and thrust ballbearing IOI and at the rear end is likewise supported a ballbearing I02. A dust cap I03 is fitted on the front of the housing I00. In the bearings IOI and I02 is supported a shaft I04 which projects forwardly of the bearing IOI into a roller bearing I05, this roller bearing being spaced from the dust cap I03 and being supported on the frame I0. Between the bearing I and dust cap I03 there is provided a hub I09 which is keyed on the shaft I04 and has its inner end provided with a peripheral flange I01 to which is secured a pair of sprocket wheels I08 held to the flange I01 by suitable bolts I09, or the like. The right angle gear 19 has an output shaft IIO, whereon is mounted sprockets III connected by chain II2 with the sprocket I00.

On the rear end of the shaft I04 (Fig. 9) is an eccentric or crank II3 having a very small throw. This crank carries a ball hearing I I4 and a thrust bearing II5 which fit within a cylindrical recess II6 extending into the head 91 from the front face II1 thereof. Surrounding the eccentric II3, the head is provided at its front face with a shallow recess II 8 forming an extension of the recess H6 and in this extension H8 is seated a plate II9 which carries a dust ring I bearing against a head or closure I2'I fixed to the rear end of the housing I00. Extending from the flange 95 are bolts I2 Ia whereon is fitted a ring I22 which is pressed against A the head 91 by means of springs I23 surrounding the bolts IZIa and having their pressure regulated by nuts I24. Surrounding the casing 94 is a casing I25 which at its front end has an inwardly projecting flange I26. At I21 is a knife supporting ring which has a lip I28 fitting behind the flange I26. This knife supporting ring is connected by a frame I29 with a ring I30 secured by bolts I3I to the rear sprocket I08. On the flange 95 is also mounted a ring I32 integral with the housing I00 and connected by ribs I32a and an intermediate flange I00a (Fig. 10) to the ring which carries a thin ring I33 extending behind the lip I34 formed on the ring I21. The ring I32 is secured to the flange 95 by cap screws I321).

Secured to the ring I21 and projecting inwardly of the casing I25 is a sleeve I35 through which passes a stem I36 carrying on its inner end a head I31, which is rockingly arranged on the stem and which supports a doctor knife I38 bearing constantly against the peripheral por tion of the cylindrical side wall 94. On the stem I36 is fixed an arm I38a to the free end of which is connected one end of a spring I39 (Fig. 10) having its other end connected to a pin I40 carried by the ring I21, so that the knife I38 is constantly urged into contact with the cylindrical surface of side wall 94.

The frame I0 supports a suitably driven blower I6 which communicates through a pipe I42 to the lower part of the casing I25 and tangentially thereof, through inlet I42a, so that cool air may be constantly blown into this casing effecting a cooling and drying of the pellets as they are whirled rapidly within the casing I25 so that they will not adhere to each other or to other objects. At the bottom of the casing is an outlet funnel I43 permitting escape of the pellets preferably to apparatus (not shown) where the cooling and drying is continued.

The operation of the mixer, cooker, and screw having been described it will be seen that the cooked material is gradually delivered into the chamber 92'. Here, due to the pressing action of the screw, it is forced outwardly of the conical face 98 and into the space between the wall 94 and the hollow peripheral face 99 of the head 91. Now the rotation of the shaft I04 causes the head 91 to perform a planetary movement while the bearings H4 and H5 permit free rotation of the head 91 on the crank or eccentric H3. The effect of this is that the head 91 rolls around the wall 94 compressing the material between the face 99 and the wall 94 and thus forcing this material out causing it to be extruded through the perforations 96. At the same time the ring :30 rotates with the shaft I04, which in turn causes rotation of the ring I 21. This ring thus carried the doctor knife I38 around the wall 94 and thus cuts off the extruded material forming pellets which are whirled and cooled by the air blast from the blower casing MI, and pass out through the funnel I43.

A hand wheel I 44 is used for adjusting the variable gearing for varying the speed of the screw 9Ia thereby adjusting the length of the pellets since the speed of the doctor knife remains constant. A lubricating means such as indicated at I45 is provided for admitting lubricant to the recess II6.

I claim as my invention:

1. The process of producing pellets comprising mixing farinaceous ingredients to form a dough, kneading and cooking the dough to a stiff, gummy mass, extruding the dough to form shreds, severing the shreds at intervals to form pellets and blowing the pellets as they are formed out of the apparatus to prevent them from sticking to each other and to the apparatus, the heating continuing throughout the kneading and cooking operation up to the point of extrusion.

2. The process of producing pellets comprising mixing farinaceous ingredients to form a dough, kneading and cooking the dough to a stiff, gummy mass, extruding the dough to form shreds, severing the shreds at intervals to form pellets and blowing the pellets as they are formed out of the apparatus to prevent them from sticking to each other and to the apparatus, the dough being kept hot throughout the process and up to the point of extrusion.

3. The method of forming and handling pellets from a stiff, gummy mass of farinaceous material comprising heating said material to the point of extrusion, extruding it into shreds, severing said shreds at intervals to form pellets, and directing a current of air around said pellets as they are formed to dry and cool them and to keep them in suspension and to prevent them from sticking to each other and to the apparatus.

THOMAS R. JAMES. 

